Associate Member
B.Sc. [Physics] (Harvey Mudd College), Ph.D. [Biophysics] (Johns Hopkins University)
Professor, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University
Associate Member, School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University
Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Lungpacer Medical Inc.
Research Interests
biomechanical analysis; biomedical; clinical trial; Focal dystonia; kinesiology; mechanical ventilation; Physiology; transvascular diaphragm pacing; TremorDr. Hoffer is the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Lungpacer Medical Inc., a SFU spin-out company that is developing a new, minimally invasive approach for pacing the diaphragm in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients who are at risk of failing to regain independent breathing due to rapid atrophy of the diaphragm muscle.
Awards
Dr. Hoffer and/or Lungpacer have received the following awards:
| Year | Award | Organization |
| 2022 | Todd Nelson | Best Undergraduate Poster Award, 2022 BPK Research Day SFU |
| 2015 | Ready-to-Rocket | Listed among the 10 Ready-to-Rocket BC Life Sciences Companies |
| 2012 | Silver Award | World’s Best Technologies, San Diego, California |
| 2012 | BCTIA Technology Impact Awards | Most Promising Pre Commercial Technology |
| 2012 | Emerging Rocket | Listed among the 10 Emerging Rocket BC Life Sciences Companies |
| 2010 | Innovation and Achievement Award | Life Sciences British Columbia |
| 2009 | Emerging Technology Award | British Columbia Innovation Council |
| 2009 | 3rd Prize | New Ventures BC Competition |
Current Lab Members
| Undergraduate Students | Research Associates |
| Estee Leung | Matheus Quon |
| Todd Nelson | Pawel Kudzia |
| Serena Skinna | Aaron Siebenga |
| Sydney Overland | Aryan Sotoodeh |
Current Opportunities in the Lab
Lungpacer’s full-time staff includes 10 recent graduates from SFU or UBC. Additionally, Lungpacer typically hires 3-4 Co-op student interns every semester in disciplines such as biomedical physiology and biomedical, electrical, mechanical or software engineering.
Please visit the Lungpacer website (http://lungpacer.com/careers/) or contact Dr. Hoffer with inquiries.
Videos
Dr. Andy Hoffer briefly discusses his research on prevention of ventilator-induced diaphragm atrophy.
Recent publications
- Reynolds, S et al.. 2017. Diaphragm Activation in Ventilated Patients Using a Novel Transvenous Phrenic Nerve Pacing Catheter.. Crit Care Med. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000002366.
- Reynolds, SC et al.. 2017. Mitigation of Ventilator-induced Diaphragm Atrophy by Transvenous Phrenic Nerve Stimulation.. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201502-0363OC.
- Francis, CA, Hoffer, JA, Reynolds, S. 2016. Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Diaphragm Thickness During Mechanical Ventilation in Intensive Care Patients.. Am J Crit Care. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2016563.
- Choi, WJ, Hoffer, JA, Robinovitch, SN. 2010. The effect of positioning on the biomechanical performance of soft shell hip protectors.. J Biomech. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.11.023.
- Choi, WJ, Hoffer, JA, Robinovitch, SN. 2010. Effect of hip protectors, falling angle and body mass index on pressure distribution over the hip during simulated falls.. Clin Biomech (Bristol). doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2009.08.009.
